Peterborough youths jailed for baseball and hammer attack

Two youths who went out ‘mob handed and tooled up’ before beating a man with a baseball bat and a hammer have been caged for four years.

Adam Kennewell and Jordan New, both aged 19, left the victim needing stitches to repair his ear after the attack in Peterborough at 5.30pm on March 8 this year.

There were tears in a packed public gallery as the two teenagers were jailed for four years, after they both pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon at a previous hearing.

Stephen Spence, prosecuting, told the court: “The victim was walking from Chadburn to Werrington when three men approached him.

“One, New, was armed with a baseball bat, while Kennewell had a claw hammer.

“Both the defendants had their faces covered to conceal their identity.

“They asked the victim if he was from Werrington. They were told it was none of their business. The victim was then hit in the head with the bat, and knocked to the floor. He was then hit in the legs with the hammer, and the arms with the bat.

“The attack lasted about one minute.”

Mr Spence told the court the victim needed stitches on his ear, and he also suffered bruising to his head, face and body. He needed crutches to walk while he recovered.

When the two teenagers were arrested Kennewell, of Crabtree, Paston denied the offences, but New, of Whitwell, Peterborough, made full admissions to officers.

The court was told the two youths had heard their friend’s house had been attacked, and had gone out looking for retribution - but had found ‘the wrong man.’

Both admitted the offences at court. Mr Spence said neither man had an extensive criminal history.

“He knows that when he is released he has to sort himself and get stability into his life.

“He regrets his actions.”

Fiona Robertson, defending Kennewell, added: “This will be his first term of imprisonment. This was a totally misguided sense of loyalty. He picked the wrong person, but in any event his actions were indefensible.